Under the programme, consumers can install small solar plants on their rooftops and consume the generated solar power during day time. Excess power can be exported to the grid through service cables.

The exported power is metered on a special type of meter called Net-Meter which is provided by the respective Discoms. The positive difference of import from the grid and export to the grid is billed to the consumer.

Consumers can reduce their consumption of utility by using solar power and simultaneously get a reduced bill on account of export of solar power to the grid.

The investment on a rooftop solar system is about Rs 70,000 per kW. Subsidy to the tune of 30 per cent is available to consumers belonging to residential and institutional segments as well as to registered societies and trusts.

The CM also launched the web portal of the rooftop solar programme– www.rtsodisha.gov.in.

“I hope establishing rooftop solar systems through net-metering will be well accepted by the public. I wish the initiative all success,” Patnaik said.